"So, happy ending right?" asked Body.
Vanya laughed and leaned back in her chair. It was two nights later back at Norton's and Vanya was feeling the better than she had in years.
"Looks like," she grinned.
"One thing I don't get though," he said, "if you don't mind me asking, is if he's been into you for this long, and he obviously has by everyone's account, why the hell with Jennifer of all people?"
"You know," said Vanya, "I asked him that myself. You're not going to believe the fucking answer."
"Try me."
"He wanted a girlfriend by the time I came back from college," she said, rolling her eyes since she still couldn't believe the stupidity of the act, "So that, since he thought that I would turn him down flat, he wouldn't be tempted to ask me out."
Body stared at her for a moment.
"That is a bullshit reason."
"Same here," said Vanya, "She was the first one he came across and bang! We've got gigglin' Jen to put up with."
"Gigglin' Jen," mused Body, "Nice name for her. But he was a fucking moron if he thought that that would help."
"With you there."
"I mean, if he'd just had the brass to ask," Body said, "Then I wouldn't have had to listen to that giggle for weeks. I swear it was getting stuck in my brain and resurfacing in my nightmares."
They both laughed at that. Body then took a swig of his beer, while Vanya tapped her coke. She had no reason to drink that night.
"So, where's he tonight?" he asked once he'd finished.
"On call with everyone else," she said, "Life's busy when you're a superhero, you know?"
"Not that I know from personal experience," said Body, "But yes, I'd imagine that it has odd hours. Hey, got some news for you."
"What?"
"Got hired by the local police force?"
"You fucking serious?"
"After all the years I've been trying to get in, do you think that I'd joke about something like that?" asked Body, "Nah. They got an opening and my resume had been improving over the years."
"Well," Vanya said, "Your next drink's on me you lucky sonuvabitch."
"I'm running a little low, so maybe that would be good for now?" he asked.
Laughing Vanya got up and headed towards the bar. She ordered it and another soda for herself. As the bar tender turned to go and fill the order she closed her eyes for a moment. Sounds of the band, which was shit, filled her ears but she couldn't care less. This week was far too good for anything to ruin it-
"Excuse me?"
Except that. Vanya cursed, opened her eyes, and turned to see Jennifer standing next to her. She looked rather upset from the way her too-much-mascara was running.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked tearfully.
Inwardly groaning Vanya searched for a reason to push her off. In the end she couldn't come up with one without looking like a total bitch or, worse yet, Rumor. So she said;
"Yeah, let me just-" she started.
"It won't take long at all," Jennifer said earnestly.
Sighing Vanya turned to the bartender.
"Could you hold those for me for a minute?" she asked.
He nodded and Vanya reluctantly allowed Jennifer to lead her off to a rather more private corner of the bar. No one was there, except for the druggies who were so high that they really didn't count as anybody.
"What's wrong?" asked Vanya.
"It's Diego," she sniffed.
Warning bells went off in her brain. It wasn't as if Vanya had ever thought that having girl talk with her boyfriend's ex would be fun. However, talking about problems with said person was a different matter, especially if it would be awkward to explain that you were the new girl.
"I thought you two broke up," she heard herself say.
"I know!" moaned Jennifer, "It's the first time a guy's ever broken up with me!"
"Really?" Vanya asked before she could stop herself.
"Yes!" said Jennifer emphatically, "So I don't know why this is happening. I mean, it's not fair! No one' allowed to treat me this way."
Jennifer's behavior started to become more and more erratic. Nervously Vanya said;
"Look, break-ups happen-"
"To other people," finished Jennifer, "I wasn't brought up to be treated this way you know!"
Your parents and Hargreeves should get together and go bowling sometime, thought Vanya, It'll be educational.
What she said instead was;
"There's a first time for everything. Maybe he's just not interested?"
Something in Jennifer's eyes flashed.
"Do you know something?"
"What?"
"About what happened," snapped Jennifer, "Obviously you do. Let me guess, he was chasing after some slut. Who?"
Taking offence at being indirectly called a slut she said coolly;
"That's none of your business anymore."
"Why won't you tell me?" she insisted.
"Like I said, it's not your business anymore," repeated Vanya as she started to edge past the other woman.
Quick as a flash Jennifer's arm moved. Vanya felt a sharp pain in her neck before she fell to the floor. Looking around to make sure that no one but the druggies were watching Jennifer pulled the needle out of Vanya's neck. She put it in her pocket quickly before going to the bar and picking out a likely victim.
"Excuse me?" she asked in a voice that would melt butter.
The man turned around and smiled at her. She smiled back before gesturing helplessly to Vanya.
"My friend had a little much, and I'm really just not strong enough to get her back to the car," she said helplessly.
"No problem," he said, "In exchange for a phone number of course."
Jennifer batted her eyelashes.
"Of course. Anything."
With the man's help Jennifer managed to get Vanya to the car. She buckled her in, gave the man a false phone number and got into the driver's seat. The drug would wear off after a few hours, so she wouldn't have to worry about her waking up. Jennifer smiled as she drove away. That had been a lot more fun than last time.
